Method of shrink-packaging utilizing a self-erecting pallet



ec. 17, 1968 E. A. COONS 3,416,288

METHOD OF SHRINK-PACKAGING UTILIZING A SELF-ERECTING PALLET Filed 00k. 18, 1965 INVENTOR. EVERETT/4. COONS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,416,288 METHOD OF SHRINK-PACKAGING UTILIZING A SELF-ERECTING PALLET Everett A. Coons, West Monroe, La., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Olinkraft, Inc., West Monroe, La., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,908 1 Claim. (CI. 53-27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of fabricating a shrink package of the type including a plurality of articles disposed in a pallet where the pallet is fabricated simultaneously and in combination with the shrink step.

The present invention relates to packaging and relates in particular to a package useful to contain numerous similar or like articles.

The invention also relates to a method of fabricating a package where the package includes a tray or pallet which is self-erected.

A package representative of the class to which the present invention relates usually includes a preformed or a prefabricated generally rectangular, square cornered tray or pallet within which a layer or tier of like articles, such as cans, jars, bottles or other similar units, are disposed and the pallet and the articles are overwrapped with a film, foil or other wrapping material which, after overwrapping, in shrunk to combine the articles and the pallet together tightly to form a unitary package.

The invention deals with an improved pallet and an improved process for erecting a pallet including an improved final package.

A special feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel tray or pallet blank which is erected simultaneously with the wrapper shrinking step so that the pallet need not be erected in a separate operation.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a novel method of fabricating the tray or pallet.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a package of the class previously described for containing cylindrical units having a generally circular shape in cross-section where the pallet is fabricated and held in its fabricated condition by the overwrap material and the corner structure of the fabricated pallet is arcuate or curved and generally follows the arcuate contour of the units packaged.

A process embracing certain principles of the present invention may comprise the steps of providing a fiat blank, disposing a plurality of articles upon the blank in an orderly arrangement or group, confining the articles to a central region of the blank so that a margin of the blank projects beyond the region of the blank occupied by the articles, overwrapping the blank and the group of articles with a sleeve of sheet material which is susceptible of shrinking, shrinking the sleeve to cause said margins to turn inwardly toward the articles to form a tray having side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, said shrinking step being effective to combine the articles and the pallet together under a compressive stress to develop a unitary package.

A blank susceptible of conversion into a pallet by the above method and embracing certain principles of the invention may comprise a sheet of cellulosic board material scored to define a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls hinged to the bottom wall, said blank having arcuate corners, one hinged wall of said blank being longer than the maximum bottom wall dimen- 3,416,288 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 sion measured along a line parallel to the score line which hinges said wall to the bottom wall.

A package embracing certain principles of the invention may comprise a pallet for containing articles having a circular cross-section including a bottom wall, opposed, hinged side walls and opposed, hinged end walls where the corners of the pallet and the junction of the end walls and side walls define a radius generally conforming to the radius of the articles disposed in the pallet and a sleeve of overwrap material encircling the pallet and the articles where the sleeve is under sufficient tension to bind the articles and the pallet into a unitary assembly.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pallet blank embracing the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a pallet blank showing cylindrical articles disposed in a group upon the blank with a sleeve of sheet material susceptible of shrinking encircling the blank and the articles;

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a completed package with the overwrap in the shrunk condition shown disposed in a shrink tunnel;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the representation of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the disposition of a pallet end wall and its adjoining side wall during initial stages of shrinking; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the pallet fully fabricated, the shrinking step having been completed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, numeral 10 designates a pallet blank having a bottom wall 11, defined by score lines 12, 13, 14 and 16.

The corners of the blank, as indicated at 17, 18, 19 and 21, are arcuate and have an outline generally defining a sector of a circle.

Score lines 12 and 13 bound margins of the blank and operate to define and to hinge side walls 22 and 23 to the bottom wall. Correspondingly, score lines 14 and 16 bound additional margins defining end walls 24 and 26 also hinged to the bottom wall.

End walls 24 and 26 are formed with a plurality of short parallel scores indicated generally by the reference numerals 27 and 28 to facilitate curling the extremities of these walls so that these extremities follow the contour of the arcuate corners 1.7, 18, 19 and 21 and also the arcuate contour of articles disposed in the pallet during the erection of the blank in a manner that will be more apparent as the-specification proceeds.

For convenience in claiming, the scored extremities of the end walls 24 and 26 are referred to as curl tabs 29, 31, 32 and 33.

The bottom wall of the blank bounded by the score lines 12, 13, 14 and 16, including the arcuate corners 17, 18, 19 and 21, defines a central region of the blank 10 within which like articles, such as cylindrical cans, bottles and jars having a generally circular configuration in cross section, are disposed in an orderly arrangement or group.

For convenience in locating articles, the bottom wall 11 of the blank 10 may be formed with depressions 34, annular or cylindrical, to provide a gauge or socket for locating o1- homing individual articles in an orderly array.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a group of articles is disposed in an orderly arrangement on the blank 10 so that the articles are disposed in the central region of the blank previously described.

Next, an envelope or sleeve of overwrap material W is placed around the pallet and the articles A so that the longitudinal dimension of the pallet and of the grouped articles is completely encircled with the ends of the sleeve overhanging or projecting beyond the longitudinal dimension as indicated by the reference numerals 36 and 37.

Thereafter, the pallet loaded with articles and encircled by the sleeve W is disposed in a shrink tunnel as indicated at S in FIG. 4. The shrink step is performed (usually by the application of heat) to cause the overwrap material W to foreshorten or shrink circumferentially around the longitudinal body of the blank and the group of articles to convert the overwrap from the loose condition shown in FIG. 3 to the tight condition shown in FIG. 4.

During the course of the shrink step, side walls 22 and 23, hinged to the bottom Wall 11, rotate upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 5.

In corresponding fashion, overhanging portions 36 and 37 of the overwrap sleeve W shrink inwardly towards the ends of the blank to cause the end walls 24 and 26 to turn upwardly toward the group of articles from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIGS. and 7.

Note further that curl tabs, such as the tab 29, are moved to a vertical position and these tabs by virtue of force generated by overwrap shrinkage and by virtue of the scores, such as scores 27, assume an arcuate configuration following the contour of the mating arcuate corner and also following the arcuate contour of the adjacent article A as is most apparent in FIG. 7.

While the present invention is not directed to the de tails of the overwrap material and its composition, it is well known that a suitable overwrap or sleeve may be fabricated of polyvinyl chloride film of the type which is susceptible of shrinking upon the application of heat while passing through what is known to the trade as a shrink tunnel.

It is to be particularly noted that the present invention embraces the following advantages:

(1) The provision of a pallet which when loaded and overwrapped conforms very faithfully to the contour of the articles loaded;

(2) The provision of a self-erecting pallet;

(3) The provision of a novel process for erecting a pallet in combination with the shrink step;

(4) The provision of a package design utilizing less overwrap material by virtue of the elimination of square corners; and

(5) The provision of a unitary package including pallet, overwrap and articles having a corner structure which is not susceptible to collapse causing the overwrap material to become slack.

It is expected that a wide variety of modifications and design changes may be devised in the present invention without departing from the general scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of fabricating a package, said package including a pallet having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls hinged to the bottom wall, said end walls being formed with curl tabs, a plurality of generally similar articles and an overwrap defining a sleeve where the sleeve is fabricated of sheet material susceptible of shrinking comprising the steps of disposing a plurality of articles on the bottom wall of said pallet in an orderly arrangement, confining the articles to said bottom wall of the pallet so that said side walls and end walls are free of a real contact with said articles, overwrapping the pallet and the articles with a sleeve of sheet material which is susceptible of shrinking, forming said side walls and end walls about said articles while utilizing the articles as a mandrel or mold, curling said curl tabs, said forming and curling steps being performed by shrinking said sleeve effective to combine the articles and the pallet together under a hoop stress to develop a unitary assembly or package having end walls and side walls contiguous with a curl tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,946,165 7/1960 Cote 53-228 X 2,980,245 4/1961 Stoker. 2,359,297 10/ 1944 Brogden. 2,965,410 12/1960 Hughes 206 X 3,092,246 6/ 1963 Harrison et al. 3,094,210 6/1963 Van Den Berg 20 6-65 3,118,537 1/1954 Copping 20665 3,288,347 11/1966 Commisso et al. 3,302,784 2/ 1967 Copping 20665 3,242,631 3/ 1966 Whiteford 20665 TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

EUGENE F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

